Head for a Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A head for a cleaning device comprising first and second head portions hingedly connected to one another, first and second support members for supporting cleaning material, said first support member hingedly connected to said first head portion and said second support member hingedly connected to said second head portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a head for a cleaning device, and moreparticularly to a head for a cleaning device wherein the head compriseshingedly connected parts.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cleaning devices are commonly used in the home and at workplaces, suchas hospitals and commercial premises, to clean surfaces. One suchcleaning device is a mop.

There are several different varieties of mop. One type of mop is knownas a ‘flat mop’, and they generally include a flat mop head which cansweep, mop, scrub and apply cleaning fluid to the floor simultaneously.

Such a flat mop head is usually detachably secured to a handle via athreaded or otherwise suitable connection. The lower side of a flat mophead is typically adapted to carry mop cleaning material, which isusually an absorbent fabric material pad or sheet. The cleaning materialmay be attached directly to the mop head by a fastening mechanism, forexample, hook and loop fastening or by the mop head receiving andholding part of the mop material.

Once mop cleaning material has been used to clean a surface the dirtymaterial needs to be either cleaned or replaced. Replacing a mop head orthe material during use is not ideal as it requires the user to have aready supply of new or cleansed mop heads. It may also require the userto touch and interact directly with the mop head and/or mop cleaningmaterial. Further, it may require the user to store, wash or dispose ofthe used mop heads.

To alleviate problems associated with replacing and cleaning mopcleaning material it is known to provide wringers. A wringer cleans thecleaning material after it has been used on a surface by wringing outthe mopped fluid. Wringers have found use with several types of mopsincluding string mops and flat mops.

However, flat mop's cleaning materials may require a more extensivecleaning process as they may collect and retain loose dirt much moreeffectively than other types of mop.

A flat mop head may include a pair foldable parts, which during use, arelocked into an operative position, such that the cleaning material ofthe flat mop head is in contact with the surface being cleaned. The flatmop heads can then be released from their locking mechanism and foldedtogether. In a folded formation, the cleaning material may freely dependfrom the mop head. The freely hanging material may then be inserted intoa cleaning apparatus, for example, a scrubber or a wringer.

However, the freely depending cleaning material has no support andinsertion of the cleaning material into a cleaning apparatus can provechallenging. This may result in time wasted or the operator touching thedirty cleaning material with their hands. Additionally, the highfriction surfaces associated with some cleaning apparatuses, such as ascrubbing apparatus, means that the cleaning material is itself notrigid and stiff enough to be fully inserted into the apparatus withoutpotentially folding back upon itself. Thus, the cleaning material of theflat mop does not fully engage with the cleaning apparatus, and itssurface may not be effectively cleaned.

It is an aim of the present claimed invention to alleviate some of theproblems mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda head for a cleaning device comprising first and second head portionshingedly connected to one another, first and second support members forsupporting cleaning material, wherein the first support member ishingedly connected to the first head portion and the second supportmember is hingedly connected to the second head portion.

In this way, there is provided a head for a cleaning device where theattached cleaning material is supported by the supporting members.Advantageously, the supporting members confer extra rigidity to thecleaning material and support the cleaning material whilst it is beingcleaned.

Preferably, the first support member is hingedly connected to the secondsupport member. Advantageously, this hinged connection provides a robustand stable connection between the first support member and the secondsupport member.

Preferably, the first head portion, the second head portion, the firstsupport member and the second support member are connected to comprise afour-sided loop. Preferably, the loop is non-continuous. Morepreferably, the non-continuous section of the loop is located betweenthe first and second head portions. Still more preferably, the first andsecond head portions are bridged by a central hub. Still morepreferably, the hinged connections of the first and second head portionsare located such that the first and second portions may be foldedrelatively towards one another. Still more preferably, the gap of thenon-continuous section is minimal and less than 10 mm.

Preferably, the first and second head portions and the first and secondsupport members are moveable from a first position, where the first andsecond head portions and the first and second support members liesubstantially parallel to one another in a first direction, to a secondposition where the first and second head portions and the first andsecond support members lie substantially parallel to one another in asecond direction, wherein the first direction and the second directionare substantially perpendicular to one another. Preferably, the hingedconnections of the head all able to rotate by at least 90°.

Preferably, in the first position, a face of the first head portionabuts a face of the first support member, and wherein in the secondposition, a face of the first head portion abuts a face of the secondhead portion. More preferably, in the first position, the abutting facesof the first support member and the first head portion are their largestfaces respectively. Still further preferably, in the first position, thefirst support member substantially abuts the first head portion acrossthe majority of one of their respective faces. Still further preferably,in the first position, the second head portion substantially abuts thesecond support member across the majority of one of their respectivefaces.

Preferably, in the second position, a face of the first support memberabuts a face of the second support member. Preferably, in the secondposition, a face of the first head portion abuts a face of the secondhead portion. More preferably, the abutting faces of the first supportmember and the second support member are their largest facesrespectively. Still further preferably, in the second position, thefirst support member substantially abuts the second support memberacross the majority of one of their respective faces. Still furtherpreferably, in the second position, the first head portion substantiallyabuts the second head portion across the majority of one of theirrespective faces.

Preferably, the cleaning device head comprises a locking mechanism forsecuring the head in the first position. Preferably, the lockingmechanism is releasable by downwards pressure.

Preferably, each of the first head portion, the second head portion, thefirst support member and the second support members are substantiallyplanar. Preferably, each of the first and second head portions and thefirst and second support members largest face is substantiallyrectangular. Preferably, the faces of first and second head portions andfaces of the first and second support members are substantially similarin area.

Preferably, the hinged connection between the first head portion and thefirst support member is between a first edge of the first head portionand a first edge of the first support member. Preferably, the hingedconnection between the second head portion and the second support memberis between a first edge of the second head portion and a first edge ofthe second support member. Preferably, the hinged connection between thefirst support member and the second support member is between a secondedge of the first support member and a second edge of the second supportmember.

Preferably, the first edge of the first head portion, the first edge ofthe second head portion and the first and second edges of the first andsecond support members are substantially parallel to one another.

Preferably, the first support member and the second support member eachhave at least one fastener for attaching cleaning material to the firstsupport member and the second support member. Preferably, the fastenersare proximate to the hinged connections. More preferably, the fastenerscomprise a hook and loop fastening mechanism.

Preferably, the first head portion and the second head portion eachcomprise at least one securing means for securing cleaning material tothe first head portion and the second head portion. Preferably, thesecuring means is a bracket arrangement. Preferably, the cleaningmaterial loops around the bracket arrangement and attaches to itself tosecure the cleaning material to the head portions.

Preferably, the first support member and the second support member arecontinuous and comprise a foldable hinge. Preferably, the connectionbetween the first and second supporting members is hinged so that theyoutwardly fold away from the first and second head portions. Preferably,the first and second supporting members are fabricated from a singlepiece of material. More preferably, the first and second supportingmembers are fabricated from plastic. Still more preferably, the hingedconnection between the first and second supporting members is a fold inthe single piece of material.

Preferably, the cleaning device comprises a handle extending from thecleaning head. Preferably, the cleaning device comprises cleaningmaterial attached to the cleaning head.

Preferably, the first support member and second support member arefabricated from a material which is stiffer than the cleaning material.Preferably, the first and second support members are more rigid than thecleaning material. More preferably, the first and second support membershave Young's moduli of less than the first and second head portions.More preferably, the first and second support members have Young'smoduli greater than that of the cleaning material. Still morepreferably, the Young's moduli of the first and second supportingmembers are between 0.01 and 20 GPa. Still more preferably, the Young'smoduli of the first and second supporting members are between 0.1 and 10GPa. Most preferably, the Young's moduli of the first and secondsupporting members are between 0.5 and 5 GPa.

Preferably, the first support member freely depends from the first headportion, and the second support member freely depends from the secondhead portion. Preferably, the hinged connections between the firstsupport member and the first head portion allows the first supportmember to depend freely from the first head portion.

Preferably, the head comprises a fixed handle. Preferably, the fixedhandle is arranged to extend parallel to the first head portion or thesecond head portion. Preferably, the fixed handle extends beyond theperimeter of the first head portion or the second head portion to whichit extends parallel.

Preferably, at least one of the first support member or the secondsupport member comprises an insertion member arranged to be insertedinto the cleaning material. Preferably, the at least one insertionmember is located at an end of the first support member or the secondsupport member. More preferably, the at least one insertion member islocated at the end of the first support member or the second supportmember which is opposite the end of the first support member or secondsupport member which is connected to the first head portion or secondhead portion respectively.

Preferably, the at least one insertion member is a tab extending fromthe first support member or the second support member. Preferably, thetab is generally cuboid in shape. More preferably, the tab is smaller inat least two dimensions than the support member from which it extends.

According to a second aspect of the present claimed invention, there isprovided cleaning material comprising at least one pocket for receivingan insertion member. Preferably, the at least one pocket is located onthe side of the cleaning material which, in use, abuts the first andsecond support members. Preferably the cleaning material is mopmaterial.

Preferably the cleaning material comprises two pockets located on oneside of the cleaning material. Preferably, the pockets are located onthe side of the cleaning material which, in use, abuts the first andsecond support members. Preferably, the two pockets are locatedsubstantially opposite one another.

Preferably, the cleaning material has a longitudinal axis and the atleast one pocket is located substantially in the centre of thislongitudinal axis.

Preferably the cleaning material comprises at least one fastener.Preferably the at least one fastener comprises hook and loop fasteningmeans. More preferably, said hook and loop fastening means is located ona tab which extends from an end of the cleaning material. Preferably,the cleaning material comprises two fasteners. Preferably, thesefasteners are located on tabs which extend from opposite ends of thecleaning material.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a floorcleaning device comprising the aforementioned cleaning head, and furthercomprising a handle extending from said cleaning head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a first embodiment of a head ofa cleaning device with supporting members in a first position inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view of a first embodiment of a head ofa cleaning device with supporting members in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side-on view of a first embodiment of a head of a cleaningdevice with supporting members when the cleaning head is in a firstposition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side-on view of a first embodiment of a head of a cleaningdevice with supporting members when the cleaning head is in a secondposition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of a head cleaning devicein accordance with the present claimed invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of a head cleaning devicein accordance with the present claimed invention;

FIG. 7 is a side on view of a second embodiment of a head cleaningdevice in accordance with the present claimed invention;

FIG. 8 is a top down view of a second embodiment of a head cleaningdevice in accordance with the present claimed invention, the cleaninghead attached to mop material;

FIG. 9 is a top view of mop material according to the present claimedinvention;

FIG. 10 is a view of the second embodiment of the cleaning head asdepicted in FIGS. 5 to 8 being inserted into the mop material of FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is depicted an embodiment ofa cleaning device 10 according to the present invention. The cleaningdevice 10 comprises a handle 20 attached to a flat mop head 30 via acentral hub 40. The central hub 40 comprises a socket 50, for insertingand retaining the handle 20, and a central universal joint. Theuniversal joint enables the handle 20 and socket 50 to pivot along twomutually perpendicular axes relative to the cleaning device head 30. Therelative movement and dual pivot enables the operator to move thecleaning device head 30 in multiple directional vectors via the handle,i.e. ‘back-and-forth’ and ‘side-to-side’ and all the motions in-betweenwhen mopping and cleaning surfaces such as floors.

The cleaning device head 30 comprises two substantially rectangularfoldable portions 60,70 which are generally similarly sized and shaped.In use the head portions 60,70 are locked into a first position wherethey are substantially planar with respect to one another, as depictedin FIG. 1. The two head portions 60,70 are foldable about two hinges inthe central hub 40. The hinges run along and parallel to the inner edgesof each of the two head portions 65 a,75 a. The two head portions 60,70are continuously foldable from a first position (a 180° conformation;FIG. 1 and FIG. 3), through a chevron conformation, to a second position(a 0° conformation; FIG. 4). In the second position the undersides ofthe first and second head portions 60,70 substantially abut.

The two head portions 60,70 are locked in the first position by alocking mechanism. In use, the locking mechanism can be released bydownwards pressure being applied, typically by the operator's foot, tothe release mechanism 80 which is located on one of the head portions70. Upon release of the locking mechanism the two head portions 60,70may then freely and relatively fold towards one another.

Each head portion 60,70 comprises a vent 90. The two vents 90 aresubstantially rectangular, comprise rounded corners and are locatedgenerally centrally on their respective head portions 60,70. The vents90 comprise an aperture that does not change in size or shape as ittraverses from the top side of the cleaning device head 100 to theunderside. The vents 90 have slats 110 that run along the longitudinalaxis of the head portions 60,70 to subdivide the vent. The vent allowsthe passage of air and fluid from the underside of the flat mop head 30.

The absorbent cleaning material 120 is fastened to the cleaning devicehead 30. The cleaning material 120 comprises two fastening portions 130,which extend from the two shortest edges of the generally rectangularcleaning material 120. The fastening portions 130 comprise asubstantially regular trapezium portion 140 and a substantiallyrectangular portion 150.

The trapezium portion 140 is attached to the cleaning material 120 alongthe trapezium's longer parallel edge and is further attached to therectangular fastening portion 150 along its shorter parallel edge. Inuse, the rectangular portion 150 is looped around a bracket arrangement160 and back on itself to attach to the trapezium portion 140. Thecleaning material 120 is secured at opposing ends of each of the headportions 65 b,75 b. Additionally, the cleaning material 120 is attachedto a first support member 200 and a second support member 210; theseattachments are detailed later.

Each of the two bracket arrangements 160 comprises two abutment members170 and a loop fastening bar 180. Each loop fastening bar 180 isattached to its respective head portion 60,70 via the two abutmentmembers 170, where the abutment members 170 protrude from the uppersurface of the head portions 60,70. The loop fastening bars 180 andabutment members 170 are orientated such that the bar 180 runs paralleland is proximate to the outer edges of their respective head portions 65b,75 b. The loop fastening bars 180 and the head portions 60,70 have aspace between them for the insertion the fastening portions 130 of thecleaning material 120.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the cleaning device of FIG. 1 isdepicted in accordance with our present invention. In FIG. 2 thecleaning head 30 with first support member 200 and second support member210 is in between its first and second positions and the cleaningmaterial 120 has been omitted for clarity.

The first support member 200 is hingedly attached proximate and parallelto the underside of the outside edges of the first head portion 65 b.The first support member 200 is substantially similar in both size andshape to the first head portion 60, i.e. substantially rectangular withsimilarly sized largest faces. The hinged attachment is additionallysecured by the attachment portion of the first support member 200 c.

The second support member 210 is hingedly attached proximate andparallel to the underside of the outside edges of the second headportion 75 b. The second support member 210 is substantially similar inboth size and shape to the second head portion 70, i.e. substantiallyrectangular with similarly sized largest faces. The hinged attachment isadditionally secured by the attachment portion of the second supportmember.

Therefore, the first and second support members 200,210 freely dependfrom the underside of the head portions 60 a. The other ends of thefirst 200 b and second 210 b support members are themselves attachedhingedly to one another, such that the first and second head portions60,70 and the first and second support members 200,210 comprise afour-sided loop. The hinged attachment between the first and secondsupport members edges 200 b,210 b comprises a single piece of flexiblematerial with a folded hinge that folds outwardly and away from thefirst and second head portions 60,70.

The underside of each of the first and second 210 d support members havetwo attachment sections for attachment to the back of the cleaningmaterial 120: a primary attachment section 220 and a secondaryattachment section 230. Both the primary and secondary attachmentsections 220,230 are located on the face of the supporting members200,210 facing away from the head portion 60,70. The primary attachmentsection 220 is generally rectangular, its longest edge is approximately90% the width of the support members 200,210, and it runs parallel andis proximate to the edge of the support members 200 a,210 a attached tothe head portions 60,70. The secondary attachment sections 230 aregenerally rectangular, smaller in area than the primary attachmentsections 220, and have an edge that runs parallel and is proximate tothe hinged connection between the first 200 b and second 210 b edges ofthe support members 200,210.

The first and second support members 200,210 are fabricated from amaterial that has greater Young's modulus than the cleaning material120. Therefore, upon securing the attachment portions 220,230 the first200 and second 210 support members confer extra rigidity to the cleaningmaterial 120. The extra rigidity may be advantageous as it may makecleaning and scrubbing the cleaning material 120 more facile. Forexample, a surface scrubber may engage the cleaning material 120 with adecreased chance of the cleaning material 120 folding or crumpling backon itself and not being scrubbed effectively.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is depicted the head 30of the cleaning device 10 in a first position. In the first position,the first and second head portions 60,70 are locked in place by thelocking mechanism. The first and second head portions 60,70 aresubstantially planar with respect to one another. Additionally in thefirst position, the first and second supporting members 200,210 aresubstantially planar with respect to one another, and are substantiallyparallel with respect to the first and second head portions 60,70, assuch, the first head portion 60 and the first supporting member 200substantially abut along one of their faces, and the second head portion70 and the second supporting member 210 substantially abut along one oftheir faces. Furthermore in the first position, the cleaning material120 is substantially planar and substantially parallel with respect tothe first and second supporting members 200,210, such that, the cleaningmaterial 120 substantially abuts a face of both the first and secondsupporting members 200,210 simultaneously. Moreover, the cleaningmaterial 120 is attached to the first and second supporting members200,210 by two primary 220 and two secondary attachment sections 230.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is depicted the head 30of the cleaning device 10 in a second position. In the second position,the first and second head portions 60,70 have moved approximately by 90°relatively towards one another, and as such, they are substantiallyparallel with respect to one another and their undersides substantiallyabut. Additionally, in the second position, the first and secondsupporting members 200,210 are substantially parallel with respect toone another and their faces substantially abut. Furthermore, thecleaning material 120 is folded substantially in half and substantiallyparallel with respect to the first and second supporting members200,210, such that the underside of cleaning material substantiallyabuts the support faces of the first and second supporting members200,210. The first and second supporting members 200,210 are fabricatedfrom a material with an increased stiffness compared to the cleaningmaterial 120. As such, the cleaning head is in the second position, oran intermediate position between the first and second, the cleaningmaterial 120 is attached to and supported by the supporting members200,210 and therefore the cleaning material 120 can be more easilyinserted into a cleaning apparatus and more easily cleaned by a cleaningapparatus, such as a scrubbing apparatus.

The cleaning device's head 30 may transform from the second position, orany intermediate positions, to the first position by a spinning motionof the handle 20 along its longitudinal axis. Once the head has beenmoved into the first position the locking mechanism is engaged andmaintains the first position until the locking mechanism is released.

Typically, the head of the cleaning device is locked in the firstposition for operation by the locking mechanism. The locking mechanismcan then be released to enable the head of the cleaning device to occupyany intermediate positions between the first and second position, suchthat the first head portion 60, the second head portion 70, the firstsupporting member 200 and the second supporting member 210 form afour-sided loop. The combination of the increased stiffness and theprimary and secondary attachment sections 220,230 forces the cleaningmaterial to be shaped by the supporting members 200,210.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is depicted a head for acleaning device which is generally constructed in the same fashion asthe embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 4. The cleaning head 1030includes a central hub 1040 for attaching the cleaning head to a handle.The central hub 1040 comprises a socket 1050, for inserting andretaining the handle, and a central universal joint 1051. The universaljoint 1051 enables the handle and socket 1050 to pivot along twomutually perpendicular axes relative to the cleaning device head 1030.

The cleaning device head 1030 comprises two substantially rectangularfoldable portions 1060, 1070 which are generally similarly sized andshaped. In use the head portions 1060, 1070 are locked into a firstposition where they are substantially planar with respect to oneanother. The two head portions 1060, 1070 are foldable about two hinges.The hinges run along and parallel to the inner edges of each of the twohead portions 1065 a, 1075 a.

The two head portions 1060, 1070 are locked in an aligned position by alocking mechanism. In use, the locking mechanism can be released bydownwards pressure being applied to the release mechanism 1080 which islocated on one of the head portions 1060. Upon release of the lockingmechanism the two head portions 1060, 1070 may then freely andrelatively fold towards one another.

The absorbent cleaning material 1120 is fastened to the cleaning devicehead 1030. The cleaning material 1120 comprises two fastening portions1130, which extend from the two shortest edges of the generallyrectangular cleaning material 1120. The fastening portions 1130 comprisea substantially regular trapezium portion 1140 and a substantiallyrectangular portion 1150.

Each of the head portions 1060, 1070 comprises two abutment members 1170and a loop fastening bar 1180. Each loop fastening bar 1180 is attachedto its respective head portion 1060,1070 via the two abutment members1170, where the abutment members 1170 protrude from the upper surface ofthe head portions 1060,1070. The loop fastening bars 1180 and the headportions 1060, 1070 have a space between them for the insertion andfastening of mop material for form a mop head.

The first support member 1200 is hingedly attached to the first headportion 1060. The first support member 1200 is substantially similar inboth size and shape to the first head portion 1060. The second supportmember 1210 is hingedly attached to the second head portion 1070. Thesecond support member 1210 is substantially similar in both size andshape to the second head portion 1070.

Therefore, the first and second support members 1200, 1210 freely dependfrom the underside of the head portions 1060, 1070. The remaining edgesof the first and second support members 1200, 1210 are unattached, suchthat the first and second support members 1200, 1210 can moveindependently of one another, and independently of the head portion1060, 1070 to which they are attached.

The underside of each of the first and second support members has anattachment section 1220 for attachment to the back of the cleaningmaterial 1120. The attachment section 1220 is generally rectangular, itslongest edge is approximately 90% the width of the support members 1200,1210. In this embodiment of the invention, the first and second supportmembers 1200, 1210 may be translucent. The attachment sections 1220 hereare in the form of hooks for use in a hook and loop fastening system.The first and second support members 1200, 1210 are fabricated from amaterial that has greater Young's modulus than the cleaning material.The head 1030 further includes a fixed handle 5000, extending from andsubstantially parallel to the first head portion 1060. Further detailsof his fixed handle 5000 are described later.

During use, this second embodiment of the cleaning head 1030 can movebetween first and second positions in the same manner as described inrelation to the embodiment of the invention detailed in FIGS. 1 to 4.

Referring now to FIG. 6, further details of the head 1030 can bederived. Each of the first and second support members 1200, 1210 can beseen to comprise a translucent material, allowing the attachmentsections 1220 on both components to be viewed. Additionally, the end ofeach of the first and second support members 1200, 1210 furthest fromthe hinged connections to the first and second head portions 1060, 1070respectively is narrower than the main body of the support member in theplane of the support member 1200, 1210. In the present embodiment, thisnarrowing of the width of the support members 1200, 1210 is achievedwith the use of a stepped profile, although the use of a tapered profileis also envisaged. Together with this narrowing of the width of thefirst and second support members 1200, 1210, the ends of the first andsecond support members may also be reduced in thickness. Again, thisreduction in thickness may be via the use of a stepped or graduatedprofile. Any reduction in thickness may also be independent of anyreduction in width.

The reduction in width of the ends of the first and second supportportions 1200, 1210 can be seen again in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 also depicts thefixed handle 5000 which extends beyond the perimeter of the first headportion 1060 to which it is attached. The fixed handle extends in adirection parallel to the plane of the first head portion 1060. Thefixed handle 5000 includes a first aperture 5050 which allows thepassage of the socket 1050 and universal joint 1051 when theconfiguration of the head 1030 is changed from the first to secondposition and vice versa. Additionally, the fixed handle 5000 comprises agripping aperture 5100 which allows the user to grip the head 1030 toallow a user to clean the head 1030 or mop material 1120 attached to thehead 1030. The fixed handle 5000 cannot be moved in relation to thefirst head portion 1060. As such, the fixed handle 5000 can be said tobe static in relation to the first head portion 1060. The static natureof the fixed handle 5000 allows the user to obtain a firm grip on thehead 1030, easing the cleaning of either the head 1030 or mop material1120 attached to the head 1030.

FIG. 8 depicts the cleaning head 1030 of the second embodiment attachedto mop or cleaning material 1120. The mop or cleaning material 1120 isattached to the cleaning head 1030 of the second embodiment in the samemanner as described in relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4,except for an additional step as described in relation to FIGS. 9 and10.

FIG. 9 depicts cleaning material 1120, more specifically mop material,for use with the cleaning head 1030 as described in FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG. 9shows the top side of the cleaning material 1120 which, in use abuts thefirst and second support members 1200, 1210 of the cleaning head 1030.The mop material 1120 comprises a microfibre cloth which, in usecontacts the surface to be cleaned.

In line with the cleaning material 120 described in relation to FIGS. 1to 4, the cleaning material 1120 of the present embodiment includes twofastening portions 1130, which extend from the two shortest edges of thegenerally rectangular cleaning material 1120. The fastening portions1130 comprise a substantially regular trapezium portion 1140 and asubstantially rectangular portion 1150. Each trapezium portion 1140 isattached to the cleaning material 1120 along the trapezium's longerparallel edge and is further attached to the rectangular fasteningportion 1150 along its shorter parallel edge.

Additionally, the cleaning material 1120 comprises two loop portions1121 for use in a hook and loop fastening system. More specifically, itis envisaged that the loop portions 1121 will engage and fasten with thehook portions of the attachment sections 1220.

The cleaning material 1120 further includes two pockets or pouches 1222.The exterior surface of each of these pouches 1222 again comprises loopportions 1121 for use in a hook and loop fastening system, thecorresponding hooks being located on the first and second supportmembers 1200, 1210. The pouches or pockets 1222 each contain an opening,each of these openings extending across the majority of the width of thecleaning material 1120. Each of the opening is also substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning material 1120.The pockets or pouches 1222 are located substantially at the centre ofthe cleaning material 1120.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, the pockets or pouches 1222 are dimensionedto receive the narrowed ends of the first and second support members1200, 1210. As such, the narrowed or tapered ends of the first andsecond support members 1200, 1210 can be accommodated inside the pouches1222 of the cleaning material 1120 to ensure the cleaning material 1120is securely held on the cleaning head 1030 along its entire length.Additionally, the use of pouches 1222 ensures the cleaning material 1120can easily be removed from the cleaning head 1030 by the user when it isworn or when a deeper clean than that which can be provided by ascrubbing apparatus is required.

1: A head for a cleaning device comprising first and second headportions hingedly connected to one another, first and second supportmembers for supporting cleaning material, said first support memberhingedly connected to said first head portion and said second supportmember hingedly connected to said second head portion. 2: The head for acleaning device of claim 1, wherein said first support member ishingedly connected to said second support member. 3: The head for acleaning device of claim 2, wherein said first head portion, said secondhead portion, said first support member and said second head member areconnected to comprise a four-sided loop. 4: The head for a cleaningdevice of claim 3, wherein said first and second head portions and saidfirst and second support members are moveable from a first positionwhere said first and second head portions and said first and secondsupport members lie substantially parallel to one another in a firstdirection, to a second position where said first and second headportions and said first and second support members lie substantiallyparallel to one another in a second direction, wherein said firstdirection and said second direction are substantially perpendicular toone another. 5: The head for a cleaning device of claim 4, wherein insaid first position a face of said first head portion abuts a face ofsaid first support member, and wherein in said second position, a faceof said first head portion abuts a face of said second head portion. 6:The head for a cleaning device of claim 5, wherein in said secondposition, a face of said first support member abuts a face of saidsecond support member. 7: The head for a cleaning device of claim 6,wherein the abutting faces of said first support member and said secondsupport member are the largest faces of said first support member andsaid second support member respectively. 8: The head for a cleaningdevice of claim 4, wherein said head comprises a locking mechanism forsecuring said head comprising parts in the first position. 9: The headfor a cleaning device of claim 8, wherein said first head portion, saidsecond head portion, said first support member and said second supportmembers are substantially planar. 10: The head for a cleaning device ofclaim 3, wherein: the hinged connection between said first head portionand said first support member is between a first edge of said first headportion and a first edge of said first support member; the hingedconnection between said second head portion and said second supportmember is between a first edge of said second head portion and a firstedge of said second support member; and the hinged connection betweensaid first support member and said second support member is between asecond edge of said first support member and a second edge of saidsecond support member. 11: The head for a cleaning device of claim 10,wherein said first edge of said first head portion, said first edge ofsaid second head portion and said first and second edges of said firstand second support members are substantially parallel to one another.12: The head for a cleaning device of claim 11, wherein said firstsupport member and said second support member each have at least onefastener for attaching cleaning material to said first support memberand said second support member, respectively. 13: The head for acleaning device of claim 12, wherein said fasteners comprise a hook andloop fastening mechanism. 14: The head for a cleaning device of claim13, wherein said cleaning device further comprises cleaning materialattached to said cleaning head. 15: The head for a cleaning device ofclaim 14, wherein said first head portion and said second head portioneach comprise at least one securing means for securing cleaning materialto both said first head portion and said second head portion. 16: Thehead for a cleaning device of claim 15, where said securing means is abracket arrangement. 17: The head for a cleaning device of claim 3,wherein said first support member and said second support member arecontinuous and comprise a foldable hinge. 18: The head for a cleaningdevice of claim 17, wherein said first support member and second supportmember are fabricated from a material which is stiffer than saidcleaning material. 19: The head for a cleaning device of any claim 18,wherein said head comprises a fixed handle. 20: The head for a cleaningdevice of claim 19, wherein said fixed handle is arranged to extendparallel to said first head portion or said second head portion. 21: Thehead for a cleaning device of claim 20, wherein at least one of saidfirst support member or said second support member comprises aninsertion member arranged to be inserted into said cleaning material.22: Cleaning material for use with a head for a cleaning devicecomprising first and second head portions hingedly connected to oneanother, first and second support members for supporting cleaningmaterial, said first support member hingedly connected to said firsthead portion and said second support member hingedly connected to saidsecond head portion, wherein said cleaning material comprises at leastone pocket for receiving an insertion member. 23: The cleaning materialof claim 22, wherein said cleaning material comprises two pocketslocated on one side of said cleaning material. 24: The cleaning materialof claim 23, wherein said pockets are located substantially opposite oneanother. 25: The cleaning material of claim 24, wherein said cleaningmaterial has a longitudinal axis and said at least one pocket is locatedsubstantially in the center of said longitudinal axis.